In the latest demonstration of Sri Lanka’s strengthening relationship with Asian and anti-Western regimes, Myanmar has donated US $ 50,000 as relief aid to Sri Lanka to the 300,000 internally displaced people in the north of the island.
Maynamar’s Foreign minister Nyan Win met with Sri Lankan ambassador Newton Gunaratna at the foreign ministry in Yangon on recently hand handover the donation, according to the English- language New Light of Myanmar.
Myanmar's junta, in power since 1962, is subject to economic sanctions from the U.S. and European Union over its poor human rights record and lack of democracy.
In recent years, Sri Lanka has opted to align with countries that provide assistance without questioning the government’s gross human rights violations.
Earlier, Beijing, a staunch supporter of Sri Lanka’s war against the Tamil Tigers, pledged US $1 million aid for the rehabilitation of the displaced civilians housed in the relief camps in the country.
Lt Gen Ma Xiaotian, Deputy Chief of General Staff, People's Liberation Army (PLA) said China pledge to extend USD 1 million to assist the IDPs in Sri Lanka and that it would be willing to further assist Sri Lanka particularly in areas of rehabilitation, resettlement and social advancement.
Xiaotian, during a meeting with Sri Lankan foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama, on the sidelines of the 8th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, expressed satisfaction over the victory of the Sri Lankan forces against the LTTE.
According to media, Xiaotian highlighted the importance China places on bi-lateral relations, territorial integrity and sovereignty of both the nations and expressed his appreciation of Sri Lanka's position on the"One- China Policy".
Another, country that has congratulated Sri Lanka on its declared victory over the Tamil Tigers is Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki telephoned his Sri Lankan counterpart Rohitha Bogollagama to extend his warm congratulations to Sri Lanka on defeating LTTE terrorism, Sri Lanka's government officials said.
Iran has been invested heavily in Sri Lanka in the past two years and according to a recent Sri Lankan state media announcement, the Government of Iran will grant 600 million US dollars to expand Rural Electrification Schemes in the island. This is in addition to a $1.2 billion project to upgrade Sri Lanka's sole refinery at Sapugaskande, outside Colombo, the island nation's capital.
Sri Lanka has also negotiated a $500 million loan from Libya.
